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Top 10 ’80s Ballads

As a time of awesome music, film and fashion, ’80s have unleashed a series of memorable ballads. So we’ll take another walk down the memory isle and look back on some of the flashy decade’s ultimate slow-dance classics. Check out the Top 10 below.

Foreigner – I Want to Know What Love Is

A classic rock ballad bound to make a lot of you reminisce about youth, first love and many other memories you’re so fond of. A definite hit for all ages, also the top reason behind Foreigner’s worldwide fame.

George Michael – Careless Whisper

A classy combo of pop and smooth jazz that propelled George Michael’s solo career straight to the top of the charts. The production mix is unmatched to this very day, whereas the nifty sax line helped the tune reach the household name status.

Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Singer Bret Michaels turned his heartache into one of the flashy decade’s biggest hits, as well as Poison’s No. 1 tune. You might recognize this one as a Miley Cyrus tune, since the popular singer recorded a cover a few years back.

Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart

Released in 1982, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is a staple ’80s radio hit and a soundtrack to so many heartaches and love couples. No wonder its still easy to find the single’s cover on random ’80s t-shirts even to this very day.

Police – Every Breath You Take

Seemingly a light love ballad, Police’s “Every Breath You Take” is in fact a somewhat disturbing tune about a stalker following his secret love’s every move. Sting and co. definitely had their share of hits, but this one just might top them all.

Whitesnake – Is This Love

Back to the rock domain, Whitesnake stand out as quite possibly the single band with most recorded love song in music history. “Is This Love” tops them all as a part of classic “1987” album that finally propelled the Snake crew to top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine

Guns N’ Roses are known as one of the raunchiest band to emerge from the ’80s music scene, but the tune that garnered them the biggest number of fans is a love ballad. Gentle and tender, unlike most early GN’R efforts that even featured Axl Rose having sex in the recording booth (check “Rocket Queen” for more on that), “Sweet Child” is still a well-known track even among today’s youth.

Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do With It

Pop lady master Tina Turner simply had to find her spot on our list, and with such an all-time classic like 1984’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” earning a place among the Top 10 was an easy feat.

Bon Jovi – I’ll Be There For You

As one of those artist that just never seem to age and even become better as the time passes, Bon Jovi cemented their spot among music royalty way back in the ’80s. One of the tunes that fetched them such status was 1988’s “I’ll Be There for You.”

Ending it with a late-’80s smash hit, Richard Marx made sure that the flashy decade is rounded up at the peak of its strength. “Right Here Waiting” easily ranks among the greatest love ballads of all time, make sure to give it a few listens.

That about wraps this one up. If you have any other favorite ’80s ballads to share, make sure to do so in the comments section.